مجله پژوهش های تاریخی ایران و اسلام
پیاپی 6 (بهار و تابستان 1389)

This research tries to show an image of customs administrative structures of and how its organization was, in Naseri period. In this respect the main concern of the study is the trends and changes of these structures. In this period the rules and regulations of the customs were controlled by the Ministry of the Customs. The Feudalism, governing normally the country, had great influence on Qajar aristocracy for acquiring their ambitions. Job-selling and the procedure of contractions were the examples. It can be said that the establishment of the customs new system and the Ministry of the Customs were superficial reforms indeed and it was an unsuccessful attempts with no effects.

The economy of caravan trade in Safavid Iran has never been subjected to analysis, yet we hardly can overestimate its importance as a wheel of commerce. It was a commonplace activity and –needless to say- there simply was no other means of conveying goods in inner Iran than on the backs of beasts of burden. The indifference towards caravan trade as an object of historical research may be due to the highly inconsistent documentation. It is at the points of interchange of overland and seaborne traffic, where European traders constantly had aspects of the display of competitive economic forces registered, that we can recover some information on this crucial trait of Iranian trade. After the 16th century, the powerful efficiency of the North-West European trading companies succeeded in reshaping to their advantage the network of Asian commerce with Europe. At the same time, Middle Eastern markets invariably relied on transcontinental caravans for their supply. In fact, one can argue that the thriving economic activity along the Indian Ocean sealanes had a complementary development in a flourishing overland trade within and across Iran during the first half of the 17th century. In addition, the establishment of East India trading company in eastern Iran played a major role in paving the way for delivering goods from Asia to Europe. However, later on due to political and military issues, the Straits of Hormoz turned to the gate of seaborne trade in Iran.

Hijaz state had a significant situation between the Islamic states in Abbasids period. Because of the sacred shrines, Hajj period, centeralization of traditional-jurisprudential groups in Medina and Alavian, who were the exclusive claimants of Abbasids caliphate lawfulness in the area governing Hijaz gave it a specific importance. Abbasids, recognizing this importance, tried to do their best in controlling the Hijaz administrative system. Mansour and Mahdi's reforms in Hijaz administrative system should be considered from this point of view. These reforms were successful in controlling the situation and punishing any rises against Alavis. In the 3rd century, Hijaz administrative system was affected by political changes such as severe tendency of states to be independent, towards establishing independent governments and the appearance of Turkish officials in the political scences, etc. In the first half of this century the political authority of caliphate appeared in the strengthening of Hijaz administrative system based on their symbols, unity of state administration, pursuing emirates rulers and the courts activities, but in the second half of the period, political weakness and aristocratic system changes affected the Hijaz administrative system and coursed the corruption of administrative unity and numerous riots endangered the stability and safety of this area. This paper tries to show the effect of this system from political changes through remodeling Hijaz administrative system.

Faith and religion have always been a determining and effective factor in Eastern to societies, especially Iran. The southern Caspian Sea lands, especially Tabaristan, due to geographical features, were among parts which have always had various and distinctive religions. Conversion to Islam has had a different procedure in Tabaristan compared with other parts of Iran. This conversion was a gradual in this area, whereas in most other areas the conversion of high classes groups followed the conversion of subordinate ones. Islam growth in Tabaristan, under the influence of native culture and political geography of this area appeared in the form of Zeydid Shiite from ancient Zoroastrian, Judaism, Islam (Sunnite, Zeydid Shiite, Imami Shiite and Ismailit). Bavandid of Espahbadiye's realm during 466-606 A.H. has been affected by this religious diversity and contact. This study aims to considering religious status in Bavandids realm.

Sahib Mohazzab-al-din Ali Deilami, one of Iranian ministers of Roman Saljuks court took important and basic actions between 637-642 in the period of Soltan Gheias-al-din Keikhosrov II, one of his significant attempts was his serious efforts for normalizing relations between Roman Saljuks and the Mongol invaders to their lands. The paper in hand tries, in the first place, to introduce this experienced and clever Iranian minister and analyze the way he took to go to Roman court and how he promoted to be a state accountant and finally a minister there. In the second place, his basic actions as a minister have been studied. The researcher, before talking about Sahib Mohazzab-al-din's measures, has necessarily studied the Roman Saljuks and the ways they dominated Anatolie area. This paper tries to give a clear historical perspective to study the promotion of the Iranian minister in Roman Saljuks court.

This paper studies the nature of active institutions of power in Iran public atmosphere after fall of Safavids. In the course of the study and in order to acquire recognition of authority institutions and define the operational level, extension and the kind of their functions, the main emphasis is on identification and presentation of political-military active elements and institutions. The distinction between the elements that seek the authority in this time from geographical limit point to view, operational ways and special political insights, not having any parallel and conformity in casts and frameworks, the operations and requests of authority claimants were due to their political insights and ability of understanding the country critical circumstances, but their purposes were not separate from their political visions and military authority. In spite of all characteristics and features of authority what specified the fact of Iran history in this period was related to the functions and decisions to these individuals and the groups connected to them. Although one can form classifications of polyhedral by a deep look at the report of active elements and groups in this period, the public destiny of the country, eventually, was depended on individual functions, top-level institutions than the local elements and centers, which were depended on public conditions. For this reason, this paper sets its main goal on introducing and estimating the functions of these groups. Accordingly, the main question of this study is: what were the purposes which the fundamental approaches of these main active agents in this period based on?

Mazandaran also, like other areas of Iran, after establishment of Safavid dynasty, became a part of realm of this dynasty, but because this zone like some areas of this country was administered by local rulers, the measure of influence of Safavids government in Mazandaran depended on relations between local rulers of this area with Safavid kings, but due to being ruled by local rulers, the degree of Safavids influence over them depended on how close their relation was. As the Mazandaran rulers were disinclined for obeying Safavids, during the first half of this period (907-1007), Safavids power over them was weak and in the second-half period Safavids was encountered with serious challenges in spite of using different policies such as empowering some of the local rulers by giving them more responsibilities or supporting one of them against the others. Safavids, as one of the most powerful governments in Iran history, either did not have any decisive domination over Mazandaran or, even during some years, they did not have any relative influence over this area.

The First World War was the by-product of various factors. The historians of the subject naturally, lay emphasis on one of the political, social or economical factors which they economical regarded as the most effective on the outbreak of the War. This article is not an exception to this general rule. It considers Germany's economic al development as the determinant factor in generating worldwide conflict. The structural transformation of the German economy was shaped by the second industrial revolution and surplus capital accumulation. The authors of this article hold the view that the occurrence of the second industrial revolution led Germany's economy to a new phase of the world capitalist system which can be labeled as large financial capitalism. In this way, Germany became the world's second industrial power after the United States. Such an achievement caused economical, and then political competition between global political-economic powers, particularly Germany and Great Britain in the late 1890's. This more than any other factors, can be singled out as the main factor in generating the First World War.